This is a discussion on 06 sti vs. 07 speed3 within the Comparison: WRX vs World forums, part of the Community - Meet other Enthusiasts category; Originally Posted by fusionchicken
speed3 lapped Laguna Seca quicker than the s2000 in one of the mag tests from a ...

It hasnt beaten the wrx, until the newest wrx came out. in the head to head comparison the wrx wins. check out the edmunds inside line. they are still identical in performance, and the speed3 sucks in the snow, unlike the wrx. speed3 is cheaper cause it's fwd

It hasnt beaten the wrx, until the newest wrx came out. in the head to head comparison the wrx wins. check out the edmunds inside line. they are still identical in performance, and the speed3 sucks in the snow, unlike the wrx. speed3 is cheaper cause it's fwd

who cares about snow, i live in southern california, idk what snow is. And thats exactly my point, everytime a wrx can't outperform another car, its always the mud or snow argument. Except in this case you can't say it outhandles it. Comparisons are comparisons and whatever they like at the end, as far as speed the ms3 is faster, it traps higher, it has better accellaration after your rolling. Its about the same in the 1/4 mile ONLY because of the wrx's awd. Even the srt4 had better track times then the wrx did, when one of the major magazines compared the rsx, srt4, and wrx on a track, wrx had the slowest lap times.

What did I miss? To me the choice is clear (not the case for may people though)

Live Wires
Down 33 horsepower and 45 pound-feet of torque to the Mazdaspeed, the 3140-pound WRX TR still managed to smoke its more powerful and equally heavy rival from 0 to 60 mph, posting a sports-car time of 5.6 seconds, nearly a half second quicker than the 'Speed3's 6.0. Equipped with an all-wheel-drive system that uses a viscous-coupling locking center differential to distribute power 50:50, the WRX was simply able to put down a superior launch, the result of all four wheels responding to a violent 5000-rpm clutch drop. Launching the Mazda, on the other hand, required a low-rpm drop of around 1000 rpm and, because the torque-management system cuts torque under full throttle in first and second gears, short-shifting at 6000 to achieve the best time. With the torque-management system off-duty in the upper gears, the Mazdaspeed was able to put down full power past 60 mph, catching up to the Subie at the quarter mile with a time of 14.3 at 99.4 mph. Once the 'Speed3 gets going, look out--Mazda claims the hot hatch can hit 155 mph, although we weren't able to verify this. While a smidge quicker at 14.2 at 97.4 mph in the quarter, the WRX just can't keep up as speeds reach triple digits, falling 0.5 second behind the Mazda at 100 mph.

Okay lets see, so the wrx outlaunches it due to a 5k clutch drop and awd but still can't win a race in the quarter mile so ms3 is obviously FASTER.

The WRX also trailed the Mazdaspeed in every handling test we conducted, evidence that the Subie's softer suspenders, while providing a more supple on-road ride, were too spongy to match the taut dampers and springs on the 3, which still delivered a ride pleasant enough for everyday commuting. Through the slalom, the WRX posted a speed of 63.4 mph, well behind the Mazda's 68.6, a pace that betters that of the BMW 330i, Infiniti G35, and Jaguar XK. Around our figure-eight course, a telling test of handling and braking, the WRX clocked a time of 27.1 sec at 0.64 g average, again no match for the 3's 26.6-second at 0.69g average. Circumnavigating the skidpad, the Mazda held on for 0.86 g of lateral grip--better than that of a Lexus IS 350--once more outgunning the Subie's stickiness of 0.80 g. And although the WRX wears snazzy red-painted calipers that use three times the number of pistons, it was the Mazdaspeed that offered superior brake feel and performance, halting from 60 to 0 mph in 111 feet--only a foot on top that of a Z06--a substantial 12 feet shorter than the Subaru. In defense of the WRX, grippier summer rubber, rather than the mud-and-snow tires it wore, would make a perceptible difference in these tests, as would a stiffer suspension.

okay so the ms3 outhandles the wrx, the ms3 has better braking in stock form.

The real beauty of the Mazdaspeed is that it shines just as brilliantly on the road as it does at the track. From steering feel and gearbox precision to body rigidity and cabin comfort, the 'Speed3 is a notch above the WRX, which comes across dated and a bit cheap in comparison. Close a door on the Subie, and the trim pieces shudder against one another, a far cry from the Mazda's, which shut with a quiet solidity. Throw in features unavailable in the Subaru--a thumping Bose stereo, a nav system, Xenon headlamps, and curtain airbags, to name a few--and the Mazda quickly proves it's the most dazzling of the two. Better yet, for relatively similar money--less if you don't need directions or ear-piercing audio--the Mazdaspeed3 delivers that dazzle at a relative bargain. It's the most electric of this duo. Plug it in and play!

okay so how was this an easy choice elmer?? wait your right, it is an easy choice ms3>wrx. Subaru has just fallen behind and keeps going in the WRONG direction.

go to page 2 for everythign i quoted, page 3 has the results of ms3 1st place and wrx 2nd place. Lets please not hang on subaru's nuts cause we own one. Also the wrx is more moddable argument, well that same engine has only been around since 2001??? give ms3 time and the market will catch up.

they cost the same, they are aimed at the same crowd, if they weren't meant to be compared, majoar magazines wouldn't be comparing them.

I definitely get that but I mean the AWD vs FWD is a legitimate argument for those of us who live in areas that have crappy weather 5-7 months out of the year.

For someone like you who lives in Cali, that argument holds no water but for someone like me who lives in Philly and is up and down the northeast a lot, AWD vs FWD is going to be huge in determining what cars I look at. I've put almost 15,000 miles on my car since October and having awd was huge. Once you start factoring in things like personal aesthetic preference (which mine is admittedly questionable) then the choice becomes glaringly clear. And that has nothing to do with any "perceived" faults of the MS3 but rather the strengths of the WRX.

Basically what I'm saying is that while it can't be argued that the MS3 is quicker, faster, breaks better, and handles better than the WRX, that's not going to make it a better overall choice for everyone.

That being said, the weather is breaking in PA and this kid I work with has brought out his MS3 and I have nothing bad to say about that car. Nothing.

right on the money. The thing is the speed3 and 6 are mazdas high performance cars, and the sti is subarus. thats why I started this thread after I raced my brotherinlaw. the wrx is still very close in performance to the speed3, but with only about 12000 miles on the speed3, it's already going back to the dealer for a second time. il take a wrx any day

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